Foldable head restraint

ABSTRACT

A foldable head restraint has two head restraint supports set within a bracket. A latch is made integral with at least one of the head restraint supports. The latch rests against a stop to prohibit rotation of the head restraint support in a first direction. The latch rests against a rotational cam to prohibit movement of the head restraint support in a second direction. By rotating the cam, the head restraint support may be folded. The head restraint support is comprised of a metal substrate with over-molded plastic geometry to accept a mating part configured within the head restraint bun. The geometry of the metal substrate and over-molded plastic geometry allow for a reduction, or even elimination, of the slots that are normally required for such a folding head restraint. This ability to fold can yield greater rearward visibility and aid in the kinematic motion of the seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to vehicle head restraints and more particularly to foldable vehicle head restraints.

Head restraints protect a vehicle occupant from serious injury due to sudden movement of the vehicle. The head restraints generally extend upward from the seat.

While the head restraints are necessary to insure the safety of passengers, at times the head restraints can present difficulties. Head restraints can obstruct the driver's view when looking rearward. If a seat is folded forward to allow a passenger to enter the rear portion of a vehicle, the head restraint may contact an object in front of the seat thus stopping the seat from fully folding down. In vehicles with seats that fold flat into the floor, the head restraint must be removed or additional stowage space in the floor of the vehicle must be provided.

A foldable head restraint has been described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/672,703, assigned to the assignee of this patent application. A foldable head restraint has a design position where the head restraint is generally upright and serves as protection for a vehicle passenger. The foldable head restraint also has a folded position, where the head restraint is rotated to allow complete kinematic movement of the seatback, or to increase rearward visibility.

While foldable head restraints offer advantages over non-foldable head restraints, foldable head restraints are generally more difficult to assemble and therefore relatively more expensive. A foldable head restraint which is easier to manufacture and less expensive is thus desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A foldable head restraint has two head restraint supports set within a bracket. The head restraint supports are comprised of a metal substrate and a section of an over-molded geometry. The over-molded geometry is generally plastic. A latch is made integral with the metal substrate. The latch rests against a stop to prohibit rotation of the head restraint support in a first direction and rests against a rotational cam to prohibit movement of the head restraint supports in a second direction. A user rotates the cam to an open position to allow the head restraint supports to be pivoted to a folded position. To reduce the size of the slots in the seatback which are often provided to accommodate foldable head restraints, the head restraint supports have a general shape of a “J”. Other shapes and configurations are possible.

The metal substrate of the head restraint supports could be fine blanked, precision stamped, or manufactured by a close tolerance metal fabrication process thereby significantly reducing the cost of the head restraint support. The metal substrate can then be over-molded. The over-molded shape and cross-section can be varied as needed to allow mating of the head restraint supports with components found in the head restraint bun.

The head restraint supports for the primary side and the secondary side of the head restraint are identical, allowing for ease of mass production. Also, due to the geometry of the metal substrate and over-molded geometry the package size of the head restraint supports is more compact when compared to similar mechanisms.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the primary side of the foldable head restraint.

FIG. 1A is another perspective view of the secondary side of the foldable head restraint.

FIG. 2 shows a head restraint support used within the foldable head restraint.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the foldable head restraint in the design position.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the foldable head restraint as the cam is being disengaged from the rotational lock.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the foldable head restraint in the folded position.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the foldable head restraint when it first contacts the rotational cam when returning to the design position.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the foldable head restraint before it returns to the design position.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the foldable head restraint contained within a seat and a bun.

FIG. 9 is a cross-section of the foldable head restraint support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows foldable head restraint 5 viewing the primary side of foldable head restraint 5. Head restraint 5 includes bracket 10. Two head restraint supports 12, 14 are attached to bracket 10 and are rotatable within bracket 10. A bun is usually provided on head restraint supports 12, 14. FIG. 1A shows a view of the secondary side of head restraint 5. Head restraint support 14 also contains latch 22. Bracket 10 also includes stop pin 32 and stop pin 17.

FIG. 2 shows head restraint support 12. (Head restraint support 14 is identical in construction to head restraint support 12.) Over-molded geometry 16 of head restraint support 12 is attached to metal substrate 18. Over-molded geometry 16 is usually contained within a head restraint bun. Metal substrate 18 of head restraint support 12 includes pivot hole 20. Pivot hole 20 is configured so as to be capable of receiving pivot shaft 24, shown in FIG. 1. Rotational torsion spring 7 is placed about the middle of pivot shaft 24. Stabilizer hole 26 is configured so as to be capable of receiving stabilizer shaft 28, as shown in FIG. 1. Latch 22 protrudes from metal substrate 18. FIG. 2 shows surface 25, surface 27, and surface 29 of latch 22.

As shown in FIG. 1, latch 22 interacts with rotational cam 30 and stop pin 32 to provide the unique folding ability of head restraint 5. Rotational cam 30 has cam torsion spring 34 installed in a preloaded condition on cam pin 36. One end of cam torsion spring 34 is held by cable pin 38. Cam pin 36 and cable pin 38 are located on cam 30. The other end of cam torsion spring 34 is attached to bracket 10.

Cable wire 40 is also attached to cable pin 38. Cable wire 40 is part of cable 42. One end of cable 42 is attached to cable termination 44, which is normally integral to bracket 10. The other end of cable 42 may be attached to the vehicle body or to some other device, such as a manual release lever, in order to actuate the folding mechanism of head restraint 5.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show the operation of the head restraint. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the head restraint in the design, or upright, position. Rotational cam 30 holds latch 22 securely against stop pin 32. Stop pin 32 is engaged with latch surface 27. The end of rotational cam 30 and latch surface 25 are generally designed such that when head restraint 5 is in the design position, there is firm engagement between the two, thereby minimizing chuck.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the head restraint after sufficient tension has been exerted on cable wire 40 to move rotational cam 30. When sufficient tension is exerted on cable wire 40, cable pin 38 is pulled downward toward cable termination 44, causing rotational cam 30 to rotate. When rotational cam 30 has rotated sufficiently, latch 22 is no longer held against stop pin 32. Thus, head restraint supports 12, 14 are free to rotate toward the folded position.

The angle of head restraint supports 12, 14 relative to a vertical plane can be selected such that head restraint supports 12, 14 will immediately rotate toward the folded position when rotational cam 30 has rotated sufficiently to free latch 22 due to the force exerted on head restraint supports 12, 14 by torsion spring 7. Alternatively, the head restraint 5 could be designed such that some other force would need to be applied to head restraint supports 12, 14 to cause head restraint supports 12, 14 to rotate to the folded position.

FIG. 5 shows head restraint 5 in the folded position. In the folded position head restraint supports 12, 14 are near horizontal. Thus, the head restraint is neither a visual obstruction nor an obstruction during the kinematic movement of the seat. When tension is no longer applied to wire 40, torsion spring 34 causes rotational cam 30 to return to a position that will enable it to reengage the lock on latch 22.

To return head restraint 5 to the design position, a force is applied on head restraint supports 12, 14 usually through the head restraint bun. Head restraint support 12 rotates until latch 22 strikes rotational cam 30. Referring against FIG. 6, continued force applied to head restraint support 12 causes rotational cam 30 to rotate clockwise.

FIG. 7 shows the position of head restraint 5 just prior to returning to the design position. Rotational cam 30 has been rotated, causing latch surface 29 to be in contact with rotational cam 30. At this position, latch surface 29 is constructed such that it will allow the rotational cam 30 to clear the path of the rotating latch 22.

When a further force is applied to head restraint support 12, latch surface 29 causes rotational cam 30 to rotate further so that latch 22 can come to rest against stop pin 32. Due to the configuration of the surfaces of latch 22, head restraint support 12 is then locked into the design position by contact between rotational cam 30 and latch surface 25.

Metal substrate 18 can be fine blanked, precision stamped, or close tolerance metal fabricated component, and would preferably be made of a high strength steel. Metal substrate 18 can be over-molded. By varying the design of the over-molded geometry, head restraint support 12 could easily mate with a variety of head restraint buns. Rotational rod 24 and stabilizer shaft 28 are usually steel rods.

Bracket 10 is usually contained within a seat back. Head restraint supports 12, 14 extend through the top of the seat back through a pair of slots. In order to minimize the size of these slots, head restraints supports 12, 14 have the shape of a “J”. Other shapes can be used for head restraint supports 12, 14 depending upon the particular application.

Assembly of head restraint 5 is simple. Head restraint supports 12, 14 are first joined by stabilizer shaft 28, and this assembly is then placed within bracket 10. Rotational rod 24 is inserted through bracket 10 and through head restraint supports 12, 14.

FIG. 8 shows head restraint 5 contained within seat 50 and bun 52. FIG. 9 shows a cross-section of rod 16 at 9-9. Rod 16 is shown having steel portion 54 with plastic over-molding 56. The cross-section of steel portion 54 is generally rectangular and the cross-section rod 16 when fitted with over-molding 56 is generally circular, although other shapes may be utilized with the same intent and functionality.

The above description is of the preferred embodiment. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. Any references to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular. 

1. A head restraint support for a foldable head restraint, the head restraint support capable of holding a bun, comprising a latch integral with the head restraint support and the latch capable of locking the head restraint support in a design position.
 2. The head restraint support of claim 1 further comprising a rotational hole for receiving a rotational shaft, the head restraint support pivoting about the rotational shaft.
 3. The head restraint support of claim 2 further comprised of a metal substrate for holding the bun.
 4. The head restraint support of claim 3 where the metal substrate is enclosed at least partially by an over-molded geometry.
 5. The head restraint support of claim 4 where the over-molded geometry is generally cylindrical.
 6. The head restraint support of claim 5 further comprising a stabilizer hole for receiving a stabilizer rod.
 7. The head restraint support of claim 6 where the primary latch has a first latch surface for engagement with a first stop.
 8. The head restraint support of claim 7 where the primary latch has a second latch surface for engagement with a first cam surface.
 9. The head restraint support of claim 8 where the metal substrate 17 and an integral latch are made from one piece.
 10. The head restraint support of claim 9 where the metal substrate is manufactured by a close tolerance metal fabrication process.
 11. A foldable head restraint comprising: a first head restraint support for receiving a bun; a bracket; and a cam that engages with the first head restraint support for holding the first head restraint support in a design position.
 12. The foldable head restraint of claim 11 further comprising a primary latch, the primary latch integral to the first head restraint support and engageable by the cam.
 13. The foldable head restraint of claim 12 further comprising a second head restraint support.
 14. The foldable head restraint of claim 13 further comprising a rotational bar extending through the first head restraint support and the second head restraint support, and the bracket such that the first head restraint support and the second head restraint support are rotatable about the rotational bar.
 15. The foldable head restraint of claim 14 further comprising a stabilizer bar, the stabilizer bar attached to the first head restraint support and the second head restraint support.
 16. The foldable head restraint of claim 15 further comprising a first stop pin, the first stop pin being attached to the bracket.
 17. The foldable head restraint of claim 16 where the latch has a first latch surface, and the latch surface engageable with the stop pin to prohibit motion of the head restraint support in a first direction.
 18. The foldable head restraint of claim 17 where the primary latch has a second latch surface that engages with the first cam surface to prohibit rotation of the head restraint support in a second direction.
 19. The foldable head restraint of claim 18 where the cam is rotatable.
 20. The foldable head restraint of claim 19 where the cam has a torsion spring, and the torsion spring biases the cam in the first direction.
 21. The foldable head restraint of claim 20 where the cam has a cable pin, the cable pin receives an end of the cable wire.
 22. The foldable head restraint of claim 21 where a first end of the torsion spring is attached to the cable pin.
 23. The foldable head restraint of claim 22 where the torsion spring has a second end, and the second end is attached to the bracket.
 24. The foldable head restraint of claim 23 where the cam is installed on a cam pivot pin and the torsion spring is mounted on the cam pivot pin.
 25. The foldable head restraint of claim 24 where the cable pin is located at the first end of the cam and the cam pivot pin is located at the second end of the cam.
 26. The foldable head restraint of claim 25 further comprising a second stop, the second stop attached to the bracket.
 27. The foldable head restraint of claim 26 where a second head restraint support has a second latch, and the second latch engages with the second stop to prohibit motion in a first direction.
 28. The foldable head restraint of claim 27 where the bracket has a first side and a second side, and the first stop is located on the first side and the second stop is located on the second side.
 29. The foldable head restraint of claim 28 where the first head restraint support has a first metal substrate and the second head restraint support has a second metal substrate, and the first metal substrate is contained within a first over-molded geometry and the second metal substrate is contained within a second over-molded geometry.
 30. The foldable head restraint of claim 29 where the first over-molded geometry and the second over-molded geometry are generally cylindrical.
 31. The foldable head restraint of claim 30 where the first metal substrate and the second metal substrate are manufactured by a close tolerance metal fabrication process.
 32. The foldable head restraint of claim 31 where the primary metal substrate and the second metal substrate are generally fine blanked components. 